Exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to the development of these diseases:

1-Asbestosis Asbestosis is a serious, progressive and chronic disease of the lungs. This disease is not a cancer. Inhaling asbestos fibers that irritate and inflame lung tissues, causing the lung tissues to scar, causes asbestosis. The scarring makes it hard to breathe and difficult for oxygen and carbon dioxide pass through the lungs. Asbestosis generally progresses slowly. The incubation period for the onset of asbestosis is typically 10-20 years after the initial exposure. The disease can vary from asymptomatic (no symptoms) to disabling and potentially fatal condition.

Signs and Symptoms of asbestosis can include:

-Difficulty in breathing is the main symptom

-A persistent and productive cough (a cough that expels mucus)

-Chest tightness

-Chest pain

-Loss of appetite

-A dry, crackling sound in the lungs while inhaling

2-Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer which may affect the lining of the lings (pleura) or the lining of the abdominal cavity {peritoneum}. Exposure to asbestos is the main cause of mesothelioma.

3-Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is a malignant tumor that invades and obstructs the lung's air passages. Cigarette smoking greatly increases the likelihood of a person developing lung cancer as the result of asbestos exposure. The most common symptoms of lung cancer are cough, wheezing, unexplained weight loss, coughing up blood, and labored breathing. Other symptoms of lung cancer include shortness of breath, persistent chest pain, hoarseness, and anemia. People who develop these symptoms do not necessarily have lung cancer, but the presence of these symptoms should spark off reasonable suspicion especially if they have been exposed to asbestos in the past.

4- Other Pleural Abnormalities

Persons with significant exposure to asbestos are at risk for developing various types of pleural (lining of the lungs) abnormalities. These abnormalities include pleural plaques, pleural thickening, pleural calcification, and pleural mesothelioma.